Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1887-08-13
HARD LIFE AMONG The TUBS.
How Large Families are Supported b
the Use of the Washboard.

HARD LIFE AMONG THE TUBS.
How Large Families are Supported by
the Use Of the washboard.
Take an East Broadway car, fetch a
compass unto the classic regions of Cherry
street and there may be penetrated the
very heart of washwomandom, where
tenement is bound to tenement by closely
interviewer lines of fluttering wet linen
and the atmosphere is as redolent Of
warm soapsuds as the pages of .L'As-
sommoir." There all ranks and classes
of laundresses live, and the stories of
their lives bear out the claim that there
is rarely reason any hard working, self
respecting woman should live in squalor.
That is what one laundress said who had
seven little children to support and had
been in bed for two months with gastric
fever.
"When Tn on my feet, = she declared.
"the children want for nothing and
asks faxnrs from nobody. It's been
pretty hard with me here ON my back for
two months now, taken down Tlianksgiv-
ing day and never up since, but my sis
tiers is good and helps me and my biggest
girl does all the washing she can and
makes a few dollars There's no reason
in tho world why hard working woman
shouldn't live quite decent and respecta-
BILE ON washing-I always did and mean
to agin when I'm well. There's the
children, all like steps, and he and my
self. He has been out of work for nearly
a year and has Just this week got a
watchman's place, but when there s big
family like this the woman's got to help.
How many children is there in all?'' she
said, turning to the eldest daughter, who
leaned on the foot of the bed and wiped
her wet, red arms on her apron.
The pale, tagged girl went into an alb
struse calculation ON her fingers, reckon
ing up an endless number of Tommies
and Susies and Marys, winding up with
the baby, which made seven. ..3sf
Eyes, sir; seven, and me and him's
nine, and we lived quite respectable all
the year ON $40 the week. How did we
do it, Well, never counted the money,
but spent it as 1t came and it always came
out even in the end. For one thing, we
only pays 90 a month for this fiat, be-
cause I'm the caretaker of the house and
that counts for the rent. Then the chill
drsn get big slice of bread and butter
and cup of coffee for their breakfast,
meat and some potatoes or cabbage for
their dinner and bread and tea again for
supper. They live quite hearty ON that
and go to school regular. Ne and the
girl and my husband have bit of bacon
at night. The coal is the thing that costs
most; it takes lot of it to heat the irons
and often, in bad weather, all the clothes
~, k,s V.,f&
one thing certain, any woman that dses
honest work can live quite nice and COM
Portable on washing If she don't drink;
that's the trouble with most Of them"
The sister of the sick woman lived not
far away and was one of the aristocrats
of the profession. She had four rooms
and lived there with a young daughter in
much comfort. They had parlor with
q set Of walnut furniture, carpet and fresh
white curtains, with motto of "God
Bless Our Home" over the mantelpiece.
One neat, bright room was kept entirely
for a laundry and no cooking or sleeping
was done there, as she only took in the
very finest washing, the owners of which
were particular that their clothes should
have no odoYs. She took in washing from
the big, fashionable flats up town, the
clothes being marvels of dainty luxury,
many of silk and all covered with lace
? and embroidery. N- 9f5 Nf
II average about $15 or $40 a week.
she said, land ask 50 or So a dozen for
every stitch take in, for they are all fine
and covered with trimming and takes
extra work. Besides, you've got TO be
regular trained to know how to do all
this fine stuff, and 'tisn't every one as
could do them at all. Me and my
daughter lives quite comfortable and
never wants for anything. We've always
as much work as we can do and the ladies
pay well and promptly. She can wash
as well as l can and no one ever finds
blue streaks in my clothes and am care
full not to tear the lace or let anything
get widowed, and don't ask any better
way Of earning my living"
The third washerwonian visited was of
colored persuasion and lived quite alone.
" Husband?' she exclaimed. mo, |
amt got no husband. done tried three
I and then quit; it's as much as can do
to take care of myself, let lone support tin
some. lazy niger that amt no count
'cepn 10 carry home the clothes; kin
hire a boy to do it cheaper. / amt never
had no trouble takin' care myself washin';
no, indeed; I've got money in the savin's
bank and makes my good $10'a week
regular. You see all them po' white
folks on your way up stairs2 Well, they
takes In washin too, but they amt got no
comfort about 'em and they's always in
, debt to the groceryman round the corner.
It's drinkin' and laziness what's the
matter with them. Monday 10 o'clock
got good part Of my clothes hangin' out
TO dry, and every day up to Friday !
washes in the mornin' and irons In the
! afternoon, but them women, they don't
do q single blessed thing all day Monday.
It's late in the afternoon fore they gets
the soiled clothes here and then it's
Z Mrs. Flanagan, dear, come in an have
q glass Of beer, do and then she and
Mrs. F1annigan sits down and talks all
the time they're drinkin' it, and Mrs.
! Flannigan stands treat next day, and so
1t goes all the week, 50 you needn't
wonder TO see them poor and dirty and
/ their room SO nasty wouldn't sit down
In 1t. Brooklyn Eagle.
|
gr The Norwegian Cuspidor.